Chapter 673: Retreat

Zhang Weiyi saw his head slump limply to the side, his heart jolted, his hands going numb with fear—he lunged forward and seized his hand: "This—this—what's going on? He was fine just a moment ago."

Seeing Miao Zhen: "... He's just asleep."

Tao Yan Bai, startled by his outburst, felt his heart skip two beats: "Be careful when lifting him—so long as he doesn't develop a high fever, it's not serious, Brother, rest easy."

Zhang Weiyi awkwardly withdrew his hand: "Good, as long as it's not serious."

Pan Yun retracted all the talismans used for the formation, then sharply tapped the wooden board beneath him, laying down a new Revival Formation before waving her hand: "Lift him up, let's go!"

Aside from Zhang Weiliang, the heroes' injuries were light; while Seeing Miao Zhen and Tao Yan Bai treated Zhang Weiliang, the heroes had already helped each other tend their wounds, and now all sat hugging their partners, watching the scene—until they heard they were leaving, and suddenly each one groaned of pain or limped as if crippled.

Xue Shao went to find Takenaga Takashi.

Soon after, soldiers who had escaped injury or suffered only minor wounds carried wooden boards up, and in groups of two or three, carried the heroes who couldn't walk away.

It was no wonder they couldn't move—this clash, the twenty-odd heroes had matched the combat power of two hundred soldiers.

Even those unharmed had collapsed from exhaustion.

Regardless, they were far more disheveled than Wang Cong and the others.

Had it not been for the thunder and lightning rolling overhead like the end of the world, and Zhang Weiliang's grave injury, they might have suspected they'd been used as pawns while Pan Yun and the others hid away to watch the show.

Oh dear, their thoughts were too base—how could they think such things of the Daoists?

After spending this time together, none of them were ones to cling to life.

Thinking this, the heroes felt ashamed.

Gao Zhiming immediately climbed off his board and grabbed Wang Cong: "Brother Wang, you're injured too—lie down."

Wang Cong: "... I injured my back, my legs are fine—Brother Gao, you lie down."

Gao Zhiming forcibly pushed him onto the board: "If you can't lie down, lie face-down—it's the same. You've worked hard, you need rest."

Wang Cong looked bewildered, politely declining: "I'm fine—it was my junior uncle who did the heavy lifting. Brother Gao, you've worked harder—you all collapsed from exhaustion—still, you lie down..."

Pan Yun simply lay down, hugging Pan Xiaohei: "Stop pushing—just walk yourselves."

Wang Cong immediately replied: "Yes."

He even gently lifted Pan Yun's legs and placed them properly on the board.

Gao Zhiming scratched his head—Pan Yun was so strong, she had no injuries at all—did she really need to lie down?

Pan Yun lay on the board, swaying as they carried her; the daylight faded, the horizon glowing with a brilliant sunset. She opened her eyes and saw white clouds drifting and curling in the wind; she closed them, and heard the rhythmic patter of footsteps, smelled the scent of grass and ripening rice...

Pan Yun swallowed the metallic sweetness in her throat, calmed the restless Yuan energy within her, and as the board rocked, her consciousness perceived the qi swirling through heaven and earth.

Wang Cong and Seeing Miao Zhen quickened their steps, walking one on each side of the board. Seeing Miao Zhen looked up; Seeing Miao Zhen shook her head slightly, so she called out to Tao Yan Bai, who was about to approach: "Third Senior Brother, should you not transfer a bit more Yuan energy to him?"

Tao Yan Bai glanced down at the sleeping Zhang Weiliang and refused: "No—his body is already processing the medicine's power; no further Yuan transfer is needed."

Their Yuan energy has other uses—Junior Uncle is injured, we must use needles on her.

Pan Yun was injured; Wang Cong and the other three who knew her well saw it at a glance, but since she showed no sign, they didn't ask.

The others remained clueless, looking triumphant as if returned from a great victory.

They withdrew five li; by now, the night was fully dark.

All their camping gear had been lost, even food was limited to what they carried on their persons.

So everyone gathered scattered firewood, pulled out their dried rations, and divided them evenly to get through the night.

Pan Yun lay motionless on the board; Seeing Miao Zhen pulled items from her space, and soon they had enclosed her completely, erecting a tent right around her.

Hu Jing watched, envious, and couldn't help saying: "Are you finally dropping the pretense now?"

Wang Cong smiled: "Brother Gu, you jest—these are just personal belongings carried on the person."

The heroes watched him silently, saying nothing.

Gao Zhiming, itching with curiosity, leaned in: "Is this a spell? Or, as books say, do you possess a space-saving pouch?"

Wang Cong: "It's a spell—once you draw qi into your body, you can refine essence into Yuan energy, or after converting internal strength into Yuan energy, you may learn this technique."

Qu Le snapped his head up, eyes accusing: Liar! Besides this, you clearly need a space-saving pouch—a tiny pouch like a purse, expensive as hell!

He'd spent a fortune on his own.

Qu Le subtly touched the tightly tied purse at his waist, wisely saying nothing.

After all, if the world knew treasures were stored in pouches, they'd be murdered for them.

Wang Cong glanced at him, nodded in satisfaction—finally, he wasn't so foolish.

Hu Jing said nothing either.

Others might not know, but he'd been by Wang Cong's side long enough—he knew perfectly well.

It was lucky he was upright.

Hu Jing discarded the thought from his mind and asked: "Why hasn't Pan Yun woken? Is she asleep?"

Pan Yun was cultivating; invisible qi now surged toward her from all directions.

Wang Cong: "My junior uncle exerted herself most today—she's exhausted. Let her sleep longer, Brother Gu, do you have something to ask?"

Hu Jing glanced at him, then gestured toward Takenaga Takashi, who lingered nearby: "He's been pacing for half an hour—everyone wants to know what's next."

Wang Cong frowned—Pan Yun was likely healing now; judging by the speed of this qi gathering, it was less than one-tenth of her usual cultivation pace—she must be badly hurt.

He didn't want to wake her, lest it disrupt her healing.

Wang Cong's gaze swept the camp and landed on Xue Shao.

Xue Shao was cleaning a wound, sensed Wang Cong's look, raised his head, glanced once, understood, and called out: "Takenaga-san!"

Takenaga Takashi immediately approached: "Young Master Xue, when will Young Lady Pan awaken? We need to plan tomorrow's attack."

Xue Shao: "When will the grain and fodder arrive? Our blades are all nicked—when will replacement weapons be delivered?"

Takenaga Takashi opened his mouth: "This..."

Xue Shao extended his hand toward a hero sitting nearby.

The hero blinked, then immediately handed over his sword.

Xue Shao made Zhu Tian Jiugang look at his sword: "Do you want our people to storm the Shankou Manor with swords like this, to fight the most formidable warriors of the Uchi clan with swords like this?"

Because it was used too much, the hero's sword was chipped and had two notches—not large, but certainly not as good as before.

It might take two extra swipes just to slit a pig's throat.

Xue Shao's face darkened: "And what about provisions? Tonight everyone is half-starved; tomorrow's meal is still unknown. Do you want them to go into battle with empty stomachs?"

(End of Chapter)